Locking Carabiner

ABSTRACT

A climbing instrument that comprises a first ring, a second ring that is larger than and engaged with the first ring. The second ring may comprise a gate that traverses a portion of the second ring and a rotatable cylinder that is positioned opposite the first ring and integrated within the second ring. The climbing instrument may also comprise a plurality of curved protrusions connected to and extending out and away from at least one of the first ring and the second ring.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

A claim for priority to the Jun. 5, 2020 filing date of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 63/035,550, titled LOCKING CARABINER (the “'550Provisional application”), is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The entire disclosure of the '550 Provisional application ishereby incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to various embodiments of a climbingtool which may also be a belay tool. More specifically, it relates to aclimbing tool with a first ring, a second ring engaged with the firstring, the second ring including a gate traversing a portion of thesecond ring and a rotatable cylinder positioned opposite the first ringand integrated within the second ring. This instrument may be used forvarious purposes including, but not limited to, rock climbing, belaying,climbing trees for tree care and tree maintenance, and various types ofconstruction projects. The features disclosed herein are numerous innature and may be employed in various different ways to provide the sameor similar results.

BACKGROUND

Various forms of climbing and belay equipment are needed for workers whoclimb trees for tree maintenance, workers who climb poles to install orrepair telephone equipment, rock climbers, and others. As a result, manyclimbing and belay instruments have been designed to protect a user frominjury. Such safety equipment typically includes a safety harness to beworn by a climber or worker and various forms of fall protectionequipment. Climbing and fall protection equipment may include carabinersand figure 8 belay instruments.

A carabiner is very commonly used by the workers and climbers describedabove. The carabiner may include a gate that may be opened to engage theuser's safety harness or a climbing rope or both. The gate willtypically remain closed by a spring and a locking mechanism that isintended to keep the gate closed until the user desires to open it. Thecarabiner may, however, be inadvertently opened during use, particularlyif the carabiner is being used to engage one or more harnesses or ropes.Some carabiners may also contain a small pulley system to allow the userto hoist a load or multiple loads up and down while climbing.

A figure 8 belay instrument is also very commonly used by the workersand climbers described above. A traditional figure 8 may comprise ametal body that has two rings that engage one another to form a figure 8like shape. The user may attach one of the rings to a carabiner andthread a rope through the other loop in a manner that enables the userto rappel in a controlled manner.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to the use of a climbing tool which may also bea belay tool—which generally resembles a figure 8 climbing tool that mayalso be a belay tool—that incorporates additional structural and designfeatures in order to improve the utility and safety of the instrument.More specifically, the instrument utilizes different concepts, designs,and features that may provide greater convenience and safety to a userthan current or pre-existing tools on the market.

The instrument may prevent various risks of harm through variousstructural and design features so that users can safely perform variousclimbing-related functions with a single tool. Similar to a traditionalfigure 8 climbing/belay tool, the instrument in this disclosure maycontain two separate rings or loops that are connected by anintermediate portion of the tool, which may be elongated, so that theinstrument as a whole generally resembles a figure 8-like shape.

One (or both) of these rings may contain a gate that may be pivoted froma closed position to an open position in order to facilitate, forexample, engaging fixed climbing ropes or a climbing harness with theinstrument. This gate may also contain various types of lockingmechanisms in order to prevent the gate from opening on accident or inan unintended manner. Users of the instrument may manipulate the lockingmechanism to move the gate from a locked, closed position to an unlockedand open position. The gate and locking mechanism may be straight so asto allow for a twisting, triple-lock type of lock mechanism, or they maybe convex and curved to conform to the contours of the ring(s).

The instrument may also contain various physical protrusions orextensions—that may be used in conjunction with climbing ropes forvarious climbing-related purposes. These protrusions may be curved or“bent” at different angles and positioned at various locations along theperimeter of the instrument in positions that may maximize theirutility.

Additionally, the instrument may also contain a pulley system. Thepulley system may be incorporated into one of the rings of theinstrument in such a way that a user may engage the pulley by threadinga rope through the ring that contains the pulley system. Incorporating apulley system might affect the structural integrity of the instrument.So, it may be desirable to reinforce the portion of the instrument thatsurrounds the pulley system to maintain sufficient structural integrityfor the uses of the instrument. This can be done in various ways. Forexample, the portion of the ring that the pulley system is incorporatedinto may be thicker, denser, and or strengthened with a separatereinforced component that may be coupled to the ring around the pulleysystem. In this way, the instrument may maximize its utility and stillmaintain the structural integrity needed to hoist and or carry heavyloads.

Climbers commonly use both carabiners and figure 8 climbing/belay toolsin conjunction with one another, climbing harnesses, and climbing ropesto perform many different functions, such as: securing their climbingharnesses to a vertical climbing surfaces, securing various tools and orbaggage to their climbing harnesses, etc.

Additionally, to perform certain climbing-related functions, climbersalso frequently need to use a single instrument, such as a carabiner, toengage various climbing ropes and a harness at the same time. Becausetypical carabiners only contain a single ring or loop, engaging aharness and multiple ropes at the same time may create unwantedinteractions between the carabiner, the harness, and the ropes. Forexample, this may cause undesired friction between the harness and therope(s). Such friction between these different components can bedangerous. These interactions between the carabiner, the harness, andthe ropes may also block or jam parts of the equipment that may causethe carabiner to remain open or open unintentionally, which can bedangerous and potentially even fatal. Additionally, the carabiner, theharness, and the ropes may tilt or press and turn a locking mechanism insuch a way that even a triple-lock unintentionally opens.

Because the instrument described in this disclosure contains multipleseparate rings—in addition to the other aforementioned features—usersmay be able to prevent some of the unwanted interactions between theirequipment listed above and therefore avoid some of the risks associatedwith such interactions. In short, the instrument described in thisapplication may allow climbers to perform various climbing-relatedfunctions with a single instrument in a safer and more convenient way.

Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects ofthe disclosed subject matter will become apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art from the ensuing description, the accompanyingdrawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a tool with a first ring, a second ring engagedto the first ring, and a gate, with the gate in a first configuration;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the tool of FIG. 1, in which the gate is in asecond, open, configuration;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the tool of FIG. 1, in which the gate in athird, open, configuration;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the tool of FIG. 1 with a pulley mechanism incross section;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the tool of FIG. 1with a first ring, a second ring, an intermediate portion adjoining thetwo rings, a convex gate positioned on the first ring, and an integratedpulley system; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the tool of FIG. 1with a straight gate, and an integrated pulley system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an embodiment of a climbing/belay instrument 100.The instrument may be in the shape of a figure 8 with a first ring 102and a second ring 104 connected by an intermediate section 106. However,it will be important to note that the instrument may form a plurality ofother shapes that vaguely resemble a figure 8-like shape. For example,the first ring 102 may form a rectangle, and the second ring 104 mayform a non-symmetrical oval in such a way that the instrument stillgenerally resembles a figure 8. The intermediate section 106, or neck,may also be elongated so that the first ring 102 and the second ring 104are more distant from one another than the ends would normally be in atraditional figure 8; however it will be appreciated that a standarddesigned figure 8 is also contemplated. The intermediate section 106 mayalso be shortened so that the first ring 102 and the second ring 104 arecloser to one another than the ends would normally be in a figure 8 suchthat the ends are essentially connected to one another, which wouldessential make a portion of each of the first ring 102 and the secondring 104 part of each other via the intermediate portion 106.

In this particular embodiment, the first ring 102 of the instrument 100may form a rounded rectangular shape, and the second ring 104 may forman irregular quadrilateral shape, which increases in width the fartherit extends in the opposite direction of the intermediate section 106.The first ring 102 and the second ring 104 are connected to one anotherby the intermediate section 106 and extend out in opposite directionsfrom one another and the intermediate section 106. The intermediatesection 106 is elongated and decreases in width towards the middle, orcentral portion of the intermediate section 106, and increases in widthwhere it connects to the first ring 102. Additionally the intermediateportion may also increase in width where it connects to the second ring104. The first ring 102, the second ring 104, and the intermediatesection 106 may comprise one uniform piece of material, such as a metal,or they may each comprise separate components that have been coupled toone another to form a unified body that define the general contours ofthe instrument 100. The rings may also be substantially circular andhave similar or different radiuses of curvature to form larger orsmaller rings.

The first ring may 102 may include a first aperture 110, or void, whichmay pass at least partially, if not entirely, through the body of theinstrument 100. The second ring 104 may include a second aperture 114,or void, which may pass at least partially, if not entirely, through thebody of the instrument 100. Each of the first aperture 110 and secondaperture 114 may include a central axis and each may be substantiallyparallel to one another.

The instrument 100 may also comprise extensions 120, which may includeone or more extensions. The extensions 120 may be located along aperimeter 112 of the instrument 100 at a plurality of positions,including for example, on the perimeter 112 around the second ring 104.The extensions 120 may extend out away from the instrument 100,extending out and away from a center of the second aperture 114. Theextensions 120 may be curved, bent or straight, and they may resemble abarb, a hook, or a bar. The extension 120 may be used for variouspurposes related to climbing, by way of one example, attaching one'sgear to the instrument 100 via the extension 120 with climbing rope bylooping the rope around the extension 120 after passing through thesecond aperture 114.

The extensions 120 may comprise a plurality of extensions and bepositioned in a plurality of locations along the perimeter of the secondring 104. The extensions 120 may also (or alternatively) be located onthe perimeter 112 of the instrument 100 around outer portions of thefirst ring 102 in such a way that the extensions 120 may protrude outaway from the instrument 100, extending out and away from a center ofthe first aperture 110. The extensions 120 may also be similarly locatedon the outer edges of the intermediate portion 106.

The instrument 100 may comprise a variety of different materialsdepending on the intended use thereof, including but not limited to,metals and alloys. By way of example and not limitation, the instrument100 may comprise steel, aluminum, aluminum alloys, and plastic.

The instrument 100 may also comprise a gate 122. The gate may contain afirst end 121 and a second end 123. The gate 122 may be coupled to theinstrument 100 in such a way that it forms part of the second ring 104.In other words, the gate 122 may replace, or take the place of, anextended portion of the second ring 104. The second end 123 of the gate122 may be pivotally fixed to the second ring 104 at a pivot 126, whichmay be a mechanical hinge. The first end 121 of the gate 122 may bereversibly secured to the second ring 104 in such a way that the firstend 121 may be pivoted between a first configuration (as is illustratedin FIG. 1), and at least one of the following: a second openconfiguration (as is illustrated in FIG. 2) and a third openconfiguration (as is illustrated in FIG. 3).

FIG. 2 illustrates that the gate 122 may pivot from the pivot 126between the first configuration and the second open configuration 140 insuch a way that the gate 122 pivots inwardly into the second aperture114. The gate 122 may also, or alternatively, pivot outward to the thirdopen configuration 150 such that the gate pivots out away from theinstrument 100 in the opposite direction of the second aperture 114.

The gate 122 may also comprise a locking mechanism 124, which may beused to lock the gate 122 while it is in a closed position and preventit from opening in an unanticipated manner. The locking mechanism 124may comprise various different form factors. By way of example, thelocking mechanism 124 may require a user to twist the locking mechanism124 and then pull it down toward the second end 123 of the gate 122 inorder to release the gate 122 and shift it from the first configurationand the second open configuration (or the third open configurationdepending on the intended use thereof). Another example of the lockingmechanism 124 may comprise a different form factor, such as a triplelock mechanism on the gate 122, which may require the user to slide thetriple lock mechanism axially toward the second end 123 of the gate 122,twist the triple lock mechanism, and then slide it axially toward thefirst end 121 of the gate 122 in order to open the gate 122.

The instrument 100 may also comprise a pulley system 130 that may beincorporated into the second ring 104. The pulley system 130 may includean elongated cylinder 132, which may be a pulley wheel, that transversesat least a portion of the second ring 104 in such a way that that theelongated cylinder 132 faces the center of the second aperture 114. Thepulley system 130 may be fixed to the second ring 104 by any suitablemeans, including for example, via a cylindrical pin or shaft thatextends through the center of the pulley system 130 into the second ring104 on either side of the pulley system 130 so that the elongatedcylinder 132 may rotate. The pin may be exposed on one end, or bothends, of the pulley system 130 and may be removable/replaceable.Alternatively the pin may be secured within the second ring 104 and thepulley system 130 and may not be accessible or removed. The pulleysystem 130 may be utilized for various purposes related to climbing,such as raising and lowering various types of loads with a climbingrope. For example, a user may choose to thread a climbing rope throughthe second aperture 114 and engage the pulley system 130 at theelongated cylinder 132 with the rope to hoist a load.

The second ring 104 may also comprise a reinforced member 134 of thesecond ring 104. The reinforced member 134 may be a strengthened portionof the second ring 104 that is located around an exterior portion of thesecond ring 104 approximating the pulley system 130 and or surroundingthe edges of the pulley system 130. The reinforced member 134 may serveto reinforce or maintain the structural integrity of the instrument 100,and specifically the structural integrity of the second ring 104, whilethe instrument 100 is being used to hoist, carry, or transport heavyloads, such as hoisting materials up or down via the pulley system 130.In FIGS. 1-3, the reinforced member may be a thicker, strengthened, andor denser portion of the second ring 104 around where the second ring104 approximates or surrounds the pulley system 130. However, it will beimportant to note that in other configurations, the reinforced member134 may take various different forms. The reinforced member 134 may, forexample, be a separate component that may be fixed to the second ring104 and is situated around the portion of the second ring 104 thatapproximates or surrounds the pulley system 130.

Alternatively the pulley wheel 132 may comprise the entire reinforcedportion 134 of the system 100. The pulley wheel 132 may completelyencircle the entire end of the second ring 104.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of an instrument 200 whichmay be substantially similar to instrument 100. The instrument 200 maycomprise a first ring 202, a second ring 204, a pulley system 230, anelongated cylinder 232, and a reinforced member 234. Correspondingnumbers may be found in FIG. 1.

The pulley system 230 may be incorporated into the second ring 204 insuch a way that the pulley system 230 is substantially sheltered withinor contained within the second ring 204. In this embodiment, the onlyportion of the pulley system 230 that may be visible outside theinstrument 200 is a portion of the elongated cylinder 232 with anexposed engageable portion 238 of the elongated cylinder 232. This mayallow the reinforced member 234 on the second ring 204 to substantiallysurround or encompass the pulley system 230, which may serve to improvethe overall structural integrity of the instrument 200 as a whole,particularly when the instrument 200 is being utilized to carry a heavyload. This embodiment may also improve the structural integrity of thepulley system 230, and allow for the pulley system 230 to be fixedwithin the body of the second ring 204 in a more secure manner.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of an instrument 300 whichmay be substantially similar to instrument 100. In this particularembodiment, however, a first ring 302, may form a small rounded shape,and a second ring 304, may form a larger rounded shape. The two ringsmay be connected to one another by an intermediate section 306, or neck,which in this embodiment, is further elongated than intermediate section106. The intermediate section 306 decreases in width towards the middleand increases in width where it connects to the first ring 302 and thesecond ring 304. The instrument 300 may more closely resemble thecontours of a traditional figure 8 climbing/belay tool.

The instrument 300 may also comprise the following elements: a firstaperture 310, a second aperture 314, extensions 320 which may compriseone or more extensions, a pulley system 330 and an elongated cylinder332. Corresponding numbers may be found in FIG. 1.

The instrument 300 may contain a convex gate 322 that may be rounded (inplace of the gate 122 on instrument 100, which is more straight). Theconvex gate 322 may comprise a first end 321 and a second end 323. Theconvex gate 322 may be coupled to the instrument 300 in such a way thatit forms part of the second ring 304. Put another way, the second ring304 may be in the form of C-shaped incomplete ring, and the convex gate322 may be coupled to the second ring 304 in such a way as to fill inthe incomplete portion of the second ring 304 so that the second ring304 (in conjunction with the convex gate 322) form a complete ring-likeshape. The second end 323 of the gate 322 may be securely affixed to thesecond ring 304 at a pivot 326. The first end 323 of the gate 122 may bereversibly secured to the second ring 304 in such a way that the firstend 321 may be pivoted between an open position and a plurality ofclosed positions.

The convex gate 322 may be curved in such a way that it conforms to theconvex contours of the second ring 304. The convex gate 322 may alsocomprise a rounded or convex locking mechanism 324, which may be curvedin such a way that it conforms to the shape of the convex gate 322. Theconvex gate 322 may contain various different forms of lockingmechanisms, however. By way of example, the first end 321 of convex gate322 may comprise a locking mechanism that may be straight. Having astraight locking mechanism that is shorter in length than the length ofthe convex gate 324 may allow the convex gate to maintain a generallyconvex or curved shape while still allowing the locking mechanism tocomprise a lock that comprises a twisting action as a safeguard, such asthe triple lock type of mechanism described previously herein.

Additionally, the instrument 300 may contain a reinforced member 334,which may be a separate and reinforced component that may be fixed to aportion of the second ring 304 that approximates or surrounds the pulleysystem 330.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of an instrument 400 whichmay be substantially similar to instrument 300. However, in thisparticular embodiment, the instrument 400 may contain a straight gate424. The straight gate 424 may comprise a straight locking mechanism421, which may traverse the length of the straight gate 424 orsubstantially all of the length of the gate 424. The straight nature ofthe straight gate 424 and the straight locking mechanism 421 may allowthe straight locking mechanism 421 to comprise various different formfactors, such as for example, a lock that comprises a twisting action asa safeguard, such as the triple lock type of mechanism described above.

Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scopes of the inventions recited by anyof the appended claims, but merely as providing information pertinent tosome specific embodiments that may fall within the scopes of theappended claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed incombination. In addition, other embodiments may also lie within thescopes of the appended claims. All additions to, deletions from andmodifications of the disclosed subject matter that fall within thescopes of the claims are to be embraced by the claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A climbing system comprising: a body resembling afigure 8 comprising; a first ring; a second ring adjacent to the firstring, the second ring comprising an opening; and an intermediate portionthat connects that first ring to the second ring; and a gate positionedwithin the second ring and traversing the opening, the gate comprising:a first end fixed to the second ring; and a second end reversiblysecured to the second ring; wherein the first end of the gate ispivotably connected to the second ring and the second end of the gate isreleasably connected to the second ring.
 2. The system of claim 1wherein the gate is toggleable between a first open configuration and asecond closed configuration.
 3. The system of claim 1, comprising atleast one protrusion extending from a perimeter of the body.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises aplurality of protrusions extending from a perimeter of the second ringopposite each other.
 5. The system of claim 1, comprising a lockingmechanism on the gate comprising: a locked configuration; and anunlocked configuration.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the gate andits accompanying locking mechanism form a curved, convex shape thatconforms to the contours of the second loop.
 7. The system of claim 1,further comprising a pulley system at least partially integrated intothe second ring.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the pulley systemcomprises a pulley wheel; and a cylindrical pin or shaft; wherein bothends of the cylindrical pin or shaft are housed within the instrumentwithin the second ring, and the cylindrical pin or shaft extends throughthe center of the pulley wheel thereby allowing the pulley wheel torotate.
 9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a reinforced memberon the second ring adjacent to the pulley system.
 10. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the pulley system is fixed substantially within thesecond loop so that the pulley system is at least partially sheltered,or contained within, the second ring so that only a portion of thepulley wheel is exposed.
 11. A climbing system comprising: a first ring;a second ring, larger than and engaged with the first ring, the secondring comprising: a gate traversing a portion of the second ring; and arotatable cylinder positioned opposite the first ring and integratedwithin the second ring.
 12. The system of claim 11, comprising aplurality of curved protrusions connected to and extending out and awayfrom at least one of the first ring and the second ring, the pluralityof protrusions being positioned along an exterior perimeter of thesystem.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of curvedprotrusions comprises two curved protrusions on opposite exteriorportions of the second ring.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein thegate further comprises a locking mechanism that is toggleable between alocked position, which prevents the gate from opening unintentionally,and an unlocked position, which allows the gate to be pivoted between anopen configuration and a closed configuration.
 15. The system of claim11, wherein the gate forms a curved, convex shape that conforms to thecontours of the second ring.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein therotatable cylinder is integrated into an interior portion of the secondring.
 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a reinforcedportion of the second ring, the reinforced portion being adjacent to andsurrounding the rotatable cylinder.
 18. The system of claim 16, whereinthe rotatable cylinder is housed substantially within the second ringexcept for an exposed, engageable portion of the rotatable cylinder. 19.A method of using a climbing system comprising: selecting a climbinginstrument, the climbing instrument comprising: a first ring; a secondring, larger than and engaged with the first ring, the second ringcomprising: a pivotable gate traversing a portion of the second ring;and a rotatable cylinder positioned opposite the first ring andintegrated at least partially within the second ring; engaging the firstring with a first harness or a first rope; pivoting the gate from aclosed configuration to an open configuration; engaging the second ringwith a second harness or a second rope; and engaging the rotatablecylinder with the second harness or second rope to hoist, lift, or lowera load that is coupled the second harness or second rope.
 20. The methodof claim 19, wherein: the climbing instrument further comprises: a firstcurved protrusion positioned on an external portion of the second ring;and a second curved protrusion positioned on another external portion ofthe second ring, the second curved protrusion being positioned oppositethe first curved protrusion; and the method further comprises engagingat least one of the first curved protrusion and the second curvedprotrusion with at least one of the first harness, the first rope, thesecond harness, or the second rope.